Power-transmitter.



N0. 856,283. PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

. F MULLER. POWER TRANSMITTER.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 17, 1904.

' 4 SHEET85EBET 1.

PATEIETED JUNE 11 1907.

F. MULLER. POWER TRANSMITTER. APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 1*], ma

4 BHEETB-SHEBT 2,

WIT M 3885 8:

PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907.

F. WELLER PGWER'TRANSMITTEB.

APPLIQATIOH FILED AUG.17,-1904;.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSELs:

uwf/vmg W M $.11 ATTORNEY.

PATENTED 311mm 190?.

F. MULLER, POWER TRANSMITTER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET WITNESSES.

ATTORNEY engage its coacting part to communicate a "Umirnn s rnrgns PATENT omen POWER-TRANSMITTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1907.

Application tiled August 17,1904. Serial No- 221,004.

1'0 (l /l [Ii/ 1 0Mb it mlu/ concern:

Be it known that 1,FR[EDERICII MULLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at El'zali'eth, iii the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usel'ul Improvements in Power-Transmitters, of which the following is a s pecitication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has for its primary object to provide a speed-changing pmver-transniitter in which the driving relation of the driving to the driven member through a series of independent connections remains uninterruptedin changing from one speed to another in the same direction.

It has for its further object to provide an advantageous arrangement of the independent connections between the driving and driven members of the transmitter with common means whereby they may be successively operated. I

The invention includes a driving and a driven member, and a plurality of independent connectirins between the same, constructed and arranged to communicate successively from the one to the other of said members diil'erent relative speeds, and to maintain a continuous driving relation between the same throughout all changes of speed.

The invention. i'urther' includes special devices for throwing into and out of operation the clutcl'ies employed in the transmitter, and a particular arrangement of the connecting gearing and means for operating the same to transmit variable speeds in the same or opposite directions. Y

The mechanism employed for communicating different speeds from the driving to the driven member may involve the employment of a series of various disengageable clutch or other transmitting devices, designed to communicate to the driven member (litter-- ent relative speeds derived from the driving iiuiniber each clutch as employed being preferably self-acting and capable of transmitting power in one direction only, whereby the clutc 1 connection deriving the lughest speed iroiii the driving member will automi-itically corresponding speed to the driven member, the clutches of the other connections driven at a lower speed running idly with their codriving relation.

The connectionsintermediate the driving and driven members are preferably of such character and so controlled that the manipulation of theone having a higher s iced determines as to the action or inaction o the adjacent connection in driving the driven member by inducing the driving engagement or the disengagement of the cooperating clutch-parts of the latter; the clutches of the series being controlled by means of a common progressively-actmg actuator where by the lower-speed clutch-parts -may be caused to assume contact but non-driving relations while those of an adjacent higher speed-clutch are in driving relation and those of-the still higher speed or speeds are maintained out of contact relation, the shifting of the common actuator progressively in one direction causing the cot'iperatingparts of the higher speed-clutches to progressively assume driving engagement and those of the next lower clutches. to maintain contact but nor-.- driving relation, while the shifting of such actuator in the opposite direction causes a reversal of such actions and the progressive Withdrawal of. the lower speed clutch parts from contact relation, complete disengage merit of the lowest-speed clutch parts en- 4 tirely interrupting the operative driving connection between the driving and driven members ,which is otherwise maintained throughout the passage from one speed to another.

-\/Vhile the present improvement is not dependent upon the ei'nployment of any particular form clutch, i. prefer to employ a friction-clutcli designed for automatic en gagenieiit of its cooperating parts in one (llrection of rotation only, and to so construct the actuator for the sevcralclutclies of a series that it will act progressively upon each to gradually efl'ect the engagement and disengagement of its operative parts so to avoid the production oi shocks in changing from one speed to the next higher or lower, as the case may be; but it is to be understood thatt'or certain purposes such friction clutches may be replaced. by positive clutches in which no provision ismade'to guard against shocks resulting from the speed-changing operation.

It will be observed that by the use of seli acting clutches the power required for e'iiect. ing the driving engagen'ieiit of their parts is operative ei'igagenient but not in actual derived solely from the driving member of the;

train, and is not communicated by the operator, who merely establishes conditions under which such automatic action takes place, and the direct manual control of such. clutches therefore is limited to the disengagement of their cooperative parts, which may be done either by forcibly separating them, or by displacing positive engaging abutments therefor upon the members of the connecting tram of gearing by which they are carried.

It will be seen that as thus constructed the present speed-changing device is particularly adapted. for use .in connection with automatic machinetools in which it is important that the change of speed be eliccted by the employment of a cam; the continuous driving relation maintained between the driving and driven members insuring the continuous an automatic machine-tool, Fig. 1 being anelevation partly in section of a counter-shaft provided with'the nn-prm'emcnt in connection with one ernl-portion ol the machine-tool,

Fig. 2 an end view ol" the same, and Fig.3 a plan of the driving membms and their cornicetions; Fig. 4 is a face view of tho clutch-pulley employed. in this form of the i-iimrovement 'with the driving disk removed to expose the members within, and Fig. a transverse section of the sain Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, represent the improvement embodied in another form of transmitting mechanism, Fig, 6 bring a sidt view, Fig. 7 an end view and Fig. H a plan view, all partly in section, of the several members of the transmitter, Fig. 9 an enlarged transverse sectional view ol' a portion of one ol" the clutch-wheels with the clutch: controlling device, and Figs. 10 and 11 external elevational and plan views of the same.

13 an elevation, partly in section, of

another form of the impriwement. Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, represent still another form of the improvement, Fig. 13being' an elevation partly in section, and El". 14' an I view of the transmitter, and Figs. lfiand- 16 face and edge vie vs of one of the driving clutch-nrembcrs. Figs. 17 and 18 are, re spectively, a sectional elevation and an end view of still another form of the improvement. Figs. 11) to 23;}, inclusive, represent .the present n'nprovement in in its preferred form, lg. 19 being a side elevational view,

partly in sect ion, of. the transmitting mechanend ism belted to a machine provided with annutomatic speed changing actuating device, Fig. 20 an end elevation of the same, and Figs.

21, 22 and lb-being detail views of one of the clutch-pullevs and its clutch-controlling device.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the main shaft 1, constituting the driving member of the transmitter, carries two belt-pulleys 2 and 3 of different dian'ieters, from which are led the belts 4 and 5, 1'( spectively,

-to the fast and loose pulleys 6, 7 and 8, 9,

mounted upon the counter-shaft 1.0 which constitutes the driven inen'iber ofthe transmitter. .The loose pulley 6 is provided with a self-engaging clutch-device, and is formed with a cylindrical cavity against the inner periphery of which normally rests the bearing portion 13, 1.4 of each of two clutch-levers 11, 12 of which two adjacent ends abut to gether, while the opposite ends are pivot ally connected by means oi'the pins 15 and 16, respectively, with one end-portion of an operating lever or rocker 17 having its enlarged. 'end 18 upon the other side otthe shai t 10 embraced-between. two lugs 19 1. pen the driving disk'20 fixed upon the shaft 10. The levers 11 and 12 constitute in function a single divided" part or member of whiclrthc opposite ends are pivotally connected with the'operating'lever or rocker 17 at different distances from the axis of rotation, and may be, by the movement 01 said leverpr rocker, caused to rccede from or approach each other to,bring them respectively into and out of operative engagement with the inner wall of the pulley 6 which constitutes a drum serving as the inclosing member of the clutch. A spring 21 intermediate the elutedlever 1 land. operating lever 17 tends to draw the latter transversely so as to force the pivoted ends of the. clutch levers apart to press the bearing portions 13 and 14 intov driving contact with the rim of the loose pulley 6. It is evident that any tl'mdcncy of the loose pulley to rotate in one direction relatively toits shaft 10 will be resisted bya cramping action induced by the engagement of the clutch-levers 11 and 12 with its rim with a force proportimiate to that comn'nn-licated to the pulley by Lin belt 1 or the resistance of the shalt 10 to turning, andany tendency of the pulley 6 to rotation in the opposite direction rllativlly to its shaft and the disk 21 fixed thereon will be unresistcd, as the engagement of the lugs 15) with the end 18 of the operating lever 17 will overcome. thctcnsion of thespring 21 in rcli'eving the frictional prrssure ol the clutchlevers 11 and 12 upon the rim of the illey 6. The position of the driving belt 4 is eontrolled by abelt-shil'ter consisting of a-longitudinally movable rod 22 having belt-engaging liiigers 23 connected with hand lever 24," and the position of the driving belt in the path of movement of and adapted for engagement with a rotary-cam 31 carried by a shaft 32 of the machine-tool to beactuated, which shaft is driven by means of a wormwheel 33 and worm 34 mounted upon a wormshaft 35 deriving its motion from a pulley 36 38 upon the counter-shaft. The operative portion of the machine tool may derive its motion" at the different speeds communicated from the ulleys 2 and 3 of the mainshaft 1, from a elt-connection with the pulley 39 upon the counter-shaft 10.

In the positions of the belt-shifters rcpresented in the drawings, the belt 4 connects the driving pulley 2 with the loose clutch pulley 6, while the belt 5 connects the pulley 3 with the loose-pulley 9 and thus the counter-shaft 10 is driven through the clutch of the pulley 6 at the slower speed proportionally to the relative sizes of the pulleys 2 and 6. As the cam 31 passes from engagement with the roller-stud of the bell-crank lever 29, and the belt 5 becomes shifted to the fastpulley 8, the latter is picked up by its belt and the shaft 10 is rotated at the higher speed, the clutch-parts of the pulley 6 being relieved from driving relation by the'action of the lugs 19 of the fast disk 20 upon the end of the operating lever 17, as before described.

' The rengagement of the cam 31 with the lever 29 again causes the shifting of the belt' 5 to the loose-pulley 9, which causes the au tomatic reengagernent of the clutch-parts 11, 12 and 6 by the release of the lever 17 from the lugs 19.

The stopping of the machine is eflected by throwing the belt-shifting lever 24 tOtllG right, Fig. 1, which operates to move the belt 4 upon the loose pulley 7. To insure the stoppage of the machine by such manual action, even when the hell-crank lever 29 is not in engagement with the cam 31, an additional finger40 is mounted upon the shiftrodi22 in such manner as to enter the space between the belt-engaging fingers 27, by means of which the shifting lever 25 may be thrown into inoperative position against the tension of its spring 41, to cause the belt 5 to be run upon the loose-pulley 9 and the power of both connections intermediate the drivin and driven shafts to be withdrawn from t e counter-shaft 10. In Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive is shown a plurality of belt and pulley connections between the driving and driven members involving the use of only a single clutch in connection with belt-shippers, but in Figs. 6 .to 11, inclusive, is represented a form of the improvement involving several trains of spur gearing intermediate the driving and driven shafts, each train comprising a separate clutch operated by a common sluit-rod. In

these figures, the main or driving shaft 1 is shown provided with three iixed gear-wl'ieels 42, 43 and 44 of different sizes, the two former meshing with the clutch gear-wheels 45 and 46, respectively, looselyniounted upon the hollow counter-shaf t 47 and the latter gearwheel 44 with an intermediate 48 meshing in turn with a loose clutch-gear 49 upon the I thereon connected by a belt 37 with a pulley shalt 47. The stepped clutch-wheels 45, 46 and 49 are constructed precisely the same excepting in size, each being formed with a cylindrical cavity having an annular flange 50 embraced by the slotted outer ends of two clutch-levers 51 whose inner ends are normally held by means of flat springs 52 against shoulders 53 presented by notches iormed in the loose sleeve 54 mountedupon the hub of the clutch-wheel and provided with a peripherally notched flange 55. The disk 56 is fixed upon the hollow shaft 47 and is provided with one or more radial holes 57 in which are inserted the springpressed sliding pins 58 each having a lateral tooth 59 passing through a suitable radial slot in the disk. and normally lying in one of-the peripheral. notches oi the flange The outer end of the radial hole 57 is closed by means of a screw-plug 60 between which and the bottom of a socket in the outer portion of the sliding pin 58 is inserted a spring 61 tending to normally maintain said pin in its inner position. Withinthe hollow driven shaft is introduced a longitudinally sliding shift-rod 62 having an enlarged operative portion 633, with conical extremities connecting the same with the reduced portions, for engagen'ient with the ends of the sliding pins The shift-rod is shown with its reduced portion passing through a screw-plug 4 in one end of the shaft 47, andprovided with a stop-collar 65 adapted for engagement with said plug and with a grooved collar 66 embraced by the forked end of a shift-lever 67 pivoted at 68 to a suitable fixed abutment.

The operative portion 63 01' the shift-rod is made of a length equal to or slightly exceeding the distance between the pins 58 of the extreme clutch-wheels ol' the series, and in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8 operates to hold out of inner operative position all the pins 58' of .the' clutch'wheels and to thereby enable them to be driven idly without any eii'ect whatever upon the driving shalt 47. As the shil't-rod is moved towardthe right by operation of the lever 67, the. pins 58 of the cluteliwheel 45 are firstern abled to move inwardly under'the act on of their springs 61., whereby their teeth 59 are enabled to engage the peripheral notches of ICC is in contact with the plug 6-1 causes the conical end of its operative portion to pass beneath the pins 58 and to thereby permit a similar engaging action of the clutching parts of the gear-wheel 46 which is rotated at a more rapid speed, thereby causing the shaft 4.7 to ts rotated at a corresponding speed, the action of the clutch-dogs 5i upon the flange 50 of the gear-whecl 45 being interrupted bythe accelerated rotation of the disk 56, looked to the flange 55, relatively to the gear-wheel 45 and its flange 50. The return of the shift-lever 67 to initial position produces a" reciprocal effect upon the clutches, and wholly interrupts-the driving connection between the driving and driven shafts. I I

By throwing theshift-lever 67 in the oppo-.

site direction from that before described'with the grooved collar66 in contact with the bearing .69, the opposite conical end of the operative portion 63 of the shift-rod is withgear-wheel 49, which is driven in the 'oppo site direction from the 45 and. 46 by means of the intermediate 48. The release of the pins 58 of this clutch-gear operates in drawn from contact with the pins 58 of the a manner similar to that already described to couple theiixed and loose members so asto rotate the shaft 47 negatively, or in the opposite direction from that previously described; and the return of the shift-rod 62 to-initial position similarlycauses the driving connection between the driving and driven shafts to be discontinued:

ln the"modification shown in Fig. 12, the

driving shaft 1 carries a series of fixed ears 7.0, 71 and 72- adaipted to mesh with a corresponding series 0 loose clutch-gears 73, 7st and'75, respectively, mounted upon the reciprocating driven shaft 76 and provided with.clutch-parts similar to those of the transmitting mechanism represented in Figs.

6 to 11 for coupling the same to the fixeddishs 77 with which they cooperate. The

I shaft 76 shown. fitted at one end to a fixed bearing 78 and supported at the opposite end ina hollow shaft 79 supported in the lixed bearing 80 and having fastened to its adjacent end onemember of a coupling comprising the head 81 with parallel pins '82 of'which the opposed mii'inbcr is rigidly secured to the i i l i l i 1 tion of the operating tween the parts 20 and 90.

stationary abutment by means of which lever the driven shaft 76 may be longitudinally shifted to bring its gears successively into engagement with the stepped driving gears 70, 7,1, 72, respectively, whereby the shaft 76 may be given relative speeds proportionate to the sizes of each pair of interineshing gears of the series.

in Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive, is represented a fornrofthe improvement, comprising a plurality of intermeshing gears arranged in pairs proportioned to transmit different relative speeds, each pair ,comprising a clutch similar to that described in connectionwith Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, but provided with means for forcibly disengaging or maintaining out of engagement the operative parts of such clutches in succession. 1n this form of the improvement, the driving shaft 1 is provided with a series of fixed gear wlieels- 87, 88 and 89 of different diameters meshing witha corresponding series of loose gears 90, 9] and 92,

're's'pectively, upon the hollow driven shaft '93, each of the latter gears being provided with a cylindrical cavity containing clutchlovers 1] and 12 abutting together at one end and having the opposite end pivo'tally con nected at separated oints to one end-por liver 17 whose round opposite end 18 is embraced by the projecting lugs '19 upon the inner face of the-fixed disk 20, as in Figs. 1 to 5. Fitted to the hollow shaft 93 is a shift-rod 94 having a conical-op erative-end adapted to engage the inner extremity ofa sliding pin. 95 passing through the hub of each disk 20 and having its outer 'endin contact with the operating lever 17. As

represented in Fig. 13 the shift-rod 94 is'in such' osition that the pins 95'df the clutch- I whee s 91 and92 are retained in their outer .ositions and the operating lever 17 engaged y each forced laterally 1n opposition to its s ring 21 to reheve the normal pressure upon clutclnparts out of driving engagement, while the pin 95 of the clutch-wheel is allowed to remain in its inner position topcrmit the operating lever. 17'of the clutch to act normally in maintaining driving relation be- As will be readily understoodfrom the foregoing descrip' tion of the operation'of the device representedin Figs. 6 to I l, iimlusiv'e thc throw of the shift-rod 94 to tho right by actuation of the forked lever 96 embracing thc grooved collar 97.thereon will cause the forciblq disengagement of the clutch-parts of the gear-whcel 90 means of the radial pin 95, which-action will cause the entire interruption of driving *relation' between the shafts 1 and, 93, while the progressive movement of the shift-rod 94 into the other extreme position in which the grooved collar 97 rests against the stationary hearing 93 will cause the successive movements of the clutch-parts of the several gearwheels into contact relation, those of the higher speed gearing in such contact relation being thrown also into drivingrelation.

in Figs. 17 and 18 is represented a positive clutch device which may be employed, if desired, in lieu of that shown in Figs. 13 and 14. is represented in these figures, the clutchgears 99. are provided with internal ratchetteeth 100 adapted to be normally engaged by the spring-pressed pawl 101 mounted upon a lateral pin 102 carried by the fixed disk 103 and held normally in operative position by the spring 104. "As represented in Figs. 17 and 18, the hubo f the disk 103 is provided with a radial sliding release pin 95 of which llic outer end rests against the tail of the pawl 101 and the inner extremity lies in the path ol'.the beveled end of the shift-rod 94. The longitudinal movement of the rod 94 causes the successive disengagement and reengagement of thepawls 101 in a manner similar to that of the clutch-parts in the form of the improvement represented in Figs. 13 and 1-1.

in the preferred form of the improvement represented in Figs' 19 to 23, inclusive, the driving shaft 1 is provided, similarly to that form of the transmitter shown in Figs. 13 and 11, with fixed driving gear-wheels 87, 88 and 7 89, of graduated sizes and an additional fixed driving wheel-105, the former meshing respectively with the loose gears 90, 91 and 92 upon the hollow driven shaft 93, and the latter with an intermediate 106 which in turn meshes with a loose gear 107 also mounted upon the hollow shaft 93. lach of these loose ge is provided with a drum having a cylindrical cavity containing clutch-levers 1 1 and 12 abutting together at one end and having the opposite end pivotally connected at separated points to one end portion of the operating lever orror-ker 17 whose rounded o posite end 18 is embraced by the projecting lugs 19 upon the inner face of a disk 20 lixed upon the hollow shaft 93. The op erative members of the clutches of the gearwheels 90, 91 and 92 are so disposed as to cause the fixed disk 20 to be rotated positively, or in the forward direction, while those of the geanwheel 107 are oppositely disposed, so as to drive the corresponding disk negatively or in a backward direction. under the. action of the connected gears H54, 39 and 105, of the driving shaft 1. nth of the disks 20 carries an angular dog pivoted L0 suitable lugs upon the same means of a pin. 109, with its outer extremitv entering a lateral slot 110 in the hollow ft 93 and its angular portion or elbow '12 .ng in contact witha stud or projection 1.11 upon the operating lever 17. The bore of the hollow shaft 93 is entered by the shift-rod 94 which is shown provided with a series of camplugs 112 fitted to the interior of the shaft andeach provided with a conical end adapted to engage the' adjacent eX- the left during the rotation of the shaft 93 forward at its highest speed, the dogs 108 of the loose gears 92, 91 and90 will be engaged, as indicated in Figs. 22 and 23, successively m the order named, the cylindrical surface of the longer'camplug 112 maintaining the dog of the wheel 107 elevated to maintain its operating lever 17 in inoperative position to relieve .the pressure of the clutch-levers 11 and 12 upon the walls of the clutch cavity, while the clutches of the adjacent wheels are successively thrown out of operative relation to interrupt the driving relation of the clutchwheels with the intermeshing gears of the driving shaft. After the driven shaft 93 has come to rest, the further shift to the left of the rod 94operat-cs to enable the clutch-dog 108 of the wheel 107 todrop inwardly beyond the conical end of the cam-plug 1.12 so as to permit the operating, lever 17 under the action of its spring 21 to throw the clutchlevers 11 and 12 into driving relation and thereby initiate the reverse movement of the driven shaft 93 through the fixed disk 20. forming a part of such clutch. .It will be seen that the action of the shift-rod 94, in this as in the other forms of the present improvement herein shown and described, is negative under all conditions,'its movements serving merely to permit the engagement of the clutch-levers with their respective clutchwheels or to withdraw them from such engagement, the normal contact relation of 'such levers with the clutch-wheels being sufficient' to insure their operative relation in case their relative speeds of rotation as before described are of suitable character. While the shift-ro'd94 is shown herein as a reciprocating part for successively engaging the radial clutch-controlling pins 95, it is evidently immaterial whether its move .ments in relation to the inner ends of said pins be endwise or rotary, its cam portions 112 being properly formed and positioned to accord with the conditions under which, it is designed to act.

Asin the form of the present improvement illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the mechanism last described is adapted for use in connection. with that class of automatic machinetools in which the actuation of a rotary toolconm'iunicated separately from the countertrolling cam-plug 112.

shaft. In this form of the. improvement, the driven shaft 93 is shown provided with two pulleys and 3-9 of which the latter is belted to a corresponding pulley upon the tool-actuating shaft, while the former is connected by the belt 37 with a pulley 36 upon a shaft 35 carrying a worm 34 which meshes with. the worm-wheel 33 upon the shaft 32 and having attached thereto a disk provided with an. irregularly formed cam-groove 31 entered by a pin so upon one arm of a bell-crank lever 29 whose other arm is connected by means of a rod 28 with one arm of a bellcrank lever 25 carried by the bearing bracket Q6 whose other arm embraces the grooved collar 113 upon the shift-rod 94.

As will be readily understood, the rotation of the worm 33 with its attached cam in the operation of the transmitter causes the bellcrank lever 29 to be rocked upon its fixed center upon the machine frame, and through the connections 28, 25 and 113 to slowly move the shift-rod so as to automatically vary the speed of the machine the work requires.

When it is desired to reverse the motion of the machine, the lower end of the rod 28 may be shifted laterally by the operator grasping the handle .114 so as to disen age the perforated cxtreimty of such rod 'rom its pivotal pin 115 upon the bell-crank lever 29, when the rod 28 maybe manually shifted so as to throw the shift-rod 94 intoits extreme lefthand position for the release of the clutch-dog 108 of the wheel 107 from its con- The shaft 93 may be again brought to rest by a reverse motion of the connecting rod 28'.

The worm-shaft is shown herein supported adjacent the pulley 36 in a box 35 pivoted at to an arm 35" of a supporting bracket and provided. with a well-known form of throw-out device for disengagement of the worm 34 with. the worm-wheel 3.3, and comprising a vertically sliding box"; for the opposite end of the \VUI'il'l-Slltlf'll provided with ateral stud 35 engaged by the hooked arm of an, angular latch-lever whose other arm 35" lies in the path of movement of a tripping lug 3.5 carried by the worm-wheel 33. The worm-shaft 35 having been shifted upwardly to bring the worm 34 into engagement with its wornmvheel 33, and the stud 35 having been thereby raised -into engagement with the hooked arm of the latch lcver, the worm is permit ted to make a complete rotation induced by the rotation of the pulley 36, until the tripping lug 35 comes into the po si'tion shown in Fig. 19, when the latch-lever isdripped and the adjaccntend of the wormsha-ft permitted to drop so as to disengage the wor'ni, 34 from the \vornrwheel 33.

'hile in certain other forms of the present improvement the coupling of the driving and driven members of the gearing is effected by positive means, involving a certain amount of shock in "passing from one speed to another where the differences in rapidity are" engagement of each of the clutches may be readily graduated by slow movement of the shift-rod to cause a corresponding regulated movement of the release member, whereby the action of the clutch-levers 11 and 12 upon the. walls of the cavity containing them may be radually varied. of the present improvement, as herein represented, the clutch wheel, or wheels are shown mounted upon the driven shaft of the trans-- nutter, but it is obviously in'nnaterial to the present invention to which of the connected shafts such clutch wheel or wheels are applied, the result being the same with either 'arrangement of the clutch wheels.

As represented herein, each form of the 'In each embodiment improvement involving the. employment of a longitudinally moving shiftnod for controlling the clutches of the intermediate connections of the driving and driven shafts includes also a hollow shaft to which such shiftrod is fitted, but it is evidently immaterial whether such rod. be wholly surrounded by the shaft upon which is mounted the clutchgear which-it controls or whether it be fitted to a key-way in said shaft; nor is it material, as concerns the method of control of the clutches whether the direction of-rot-ation of the clutch-wheels be in the same or opposite directions; nor the number of independent connections employed between the driving and driven members an essentlal part of the lmprovement, these matters being deterdnined by the particular uses for which the power transmitter may be designed.

Although each of the forms of the power transmitter embodying the present invention herein shown and described includes two separate shafts, of which one maybe considered the driving'and the other the driven member, it is to be understood that the driving and driven members are not necessarily two separate and independentshafts, but that the transmission of power may be effected from one of such members to another mounted upon a single shaft, and that the present invention is not therefore limit-ed to the employment of driving shaft and a driven shaft with intermediate connections of the charthe driving and driven members remain in continuous driving relation during the changes from one speed to another.

By the term different speeds as cmployed in the appended claims, is to be understood the diverse movements communicated through the connecting cogor beltgearing intermediate the driving and driven members, whether positive, as in transmittingi the power for performing work in-niachine-tools or negative. as in transmitting the power for 'etlect-ing the reverse or return feeding movements in such machines.

I have not claimed specifically herein'the means for throwing out of operative relation the co'acting men'ibers of the seli-engaging clutch forming a part of the power transmitter shown and described herein, as the same is claimed in my application, Serial No. 246,839, filed l ebruary 23, 1905.

Having thus set Forth the nature of my .invention, what I claim herein is,

In a power transmitter, thecombination with a driving and a driven member, of a plurality of COl'lllOC-blUIlS between the same, each comprising a single clutch having a driving and a driven part each of which is positively connected with itsrespective member, said connections being constructed and arranged to communicate independently from the one to the other of said members different relative speeds and to maintain a continuous driving relation between the same through all changes of speed, and means whereby said clutches are controlled for changing the speed of the driven memher or for wholly'disconnecting the driving from the driven member.

2. In a power transmitter, the combination with a driving and a driven member, of a pluralityof connections between the same constructed and arranged to communicate independently from the one to the other of said members different relative speeds and at least one of said connections comprising a clutch operative in one direction only of l which the operative members are in active engagement when the connection or connections having the higher "speed are not in driving relation, and means for controlling tllu clutch 0 1- clutches for producing changes in the speed of the driven member or for wholly disconnecting the driving from the driven member.

3. In a power transmitter, the combination with a driving and a driven member, of

.a plurality of connections between the same constructed and arranged ti')- comn1unica te independently from the one to the other of said membersdiverse movements, in respect of speed or direction, each including aclutch comprising self-acting frictionally engaging parts normally in contact relation but operative in one direction onlv, and means for successively disengaging and maintaining disengaged the coacting parts of said clutches.

4. In a power transmitter, the combination with a driving and a driven member, of a plurality of connections between the same constructed and arranged to communicate independently from the one to the other of said members diverse movements in respect of speed or direction, each including a clutch comprising self-acting irictionall engaging parts, one only of said clutches eing operative at a time and the component. parts of the others driven at lower speed resting in contact relation and in readiness for active engagement, and common means for Suecessively disengaging the coacting parts of said clutches.

5. In a power transmitter, the combination with a driving and a driven member, of a pltrality of connections between the same constracted and arrangedto comm'tnicatc' independently from one to the other of said members diverse movements in respect of speed or direction, each inch ding a clutch comprising self-acting frictionally engaging parts, and means for controlling said 'ch tches where by one only is operative while the operative parts of those driven at higher speeds are wholly disengaged and those of lower speeds remain in contact relation in readiness for positive engagement.

6. In a power transmitter, the combination with a driving and a driven member, of a series of connect-ions between the same pro portioned and arranged to commrnicate independently from the one to the other of said members diverse movements, in respect of speed or direction, each including a clutch comprising self-acting frictionally engaging parts, and a common disengaging devicefor Sh ccessively interrupting engagement of the coacting parts of said clutches beginning with that driven at the-highest speed While permitting those of \lower speed to remain in either actral driving relation or in contact relation in readiness for operative engagement. I

7. In a power transmitter, the combination with a driving and a driven member, of a series of connedtionis between the same con strvcted and arranged to communicate from the one to the other of said members diverse movements, in respect of speed and direction, and each comprising a clutch-wheel and spring acttated clntchdevers normally engaging the same, a radially movable con trolling device adapted to be shifted in opp0- site directions whereby the action and inaction of said clutch may be controlled, and a common actuating rod arranged and oper-' ated to successively operate said controlling devices. a

8. In a power transmitter, the combination with a driving and a driven member, of a series of connections between the'same constructed and arranged to communicate from crating said clutches whereby the disengage;

the oneto the other of said members diverse controlled, and a-common axiallvrecipro eating actuating rod provided with spaced cam-pieces adapted for s.:ccessive engagement with said controlling devices.

9. In a power transmitter, the combinat on with a driving and a driven member, of

series of connections between the same constructed and arranged to communicate from the one to the other of said members diverse movements, in respect of speed and direc tion, and each comprising a clutch-wheel and clutch-levers with connected spring-pressed operating lever normally engaging said clutch wheel, a pivoted angalar clutch-controlling dog movable radially of said clutchwheel and having its angilar portion engaging said operating lever in opposition. to its spring, and a common actuating rod provided with spaced cam-pieces adapted for successive engagement with the free ends of the clntch-controllingdogs.

10. A power transmitter comprising a driving and a driven men'iber, a plurality of connections between the same constricted and arranged to comm nicate independently from one to the other of said members differ-- ent relative speeds and each comprising a clutch of which the operative members are in active engagement when those of the next higher speed connection are not in driving relation, means for controlling the effective operation of said ch'tches, and a driving connection between said means and the said driven member of the transmitter.

11. The combination. with a power transmitter comprising a driving and a driven member, of a plurality of connections between the same constructed and arranged to communicate independently from. one to the other of said members different relative speeds and each comprising a clutch of which the operative men'ibers are in active engagement when those of the next higher speed connection-are not in driving relation, means for controlling the effective operation of said clutches, a cam, a connection with the driven member from which said cam receives its movements, a follower engaging said cam, and a connection between said follower and the controlling means for operating the latter.

12. In a power transmitter, the combina tiouwith a driving and a driven member, and aplurality of connections between the same each comprising a single clutch including self-acting frictionally-engaging parts, of which the operative members are in active common manually controlling means for opmentof the coacting parts of one of said clutches causes the automatic active engagement of the eoacting parts of another of said clutches unaffected directly by said controlling means.

13. In a power transmitter, the combination with a plurality of clutches each comprising self-acting frictionally engagingparts norn'ially in contact relation but operative in one direction. only, of a common controller therefor acting to successively force said engaging parts out of engagement.

14. In a power transmitter, the combination with a plurality of clutches, each comprising mterengagmg parts normally in contact relation but operative in one direction only, and a common controller for said clutches arranged and adapted to succes sively throw the interengaging arts of each of said clutches into inactive re ation and to maintain them in said. relation.

.15. In a power transmittenthe combination with a plurality of clutches each comprising self-engaging coacting parts and a common shaft upon which said clutches are mounted, and a common controlling rod disposed longitudinally of said shaft and provided with a series of spaced operative portions each adapted to control the operation of its respective clutch.

16. In a power transmitter, the combination with a plurality of clutches each including self-acting frictionally engaging parts, a common" halt upon which said'clutches and a common controlling rod dis osed longitudinallyof said shaft and provid ed with a series of spaced operative portions each adapted to forcibly disengage the coacting parts of its respective clutch.

17. In a power transmiler, the combina tion with a driving and a driven i'nen'iber, of a plurality of connections between the same constructed and arranged to communicate i11- dependently from the one to the other of said members diverse movements in respect of speed or direction. each including asingle clutch comprising self-engaging parts, one only of said clutches being operative at a time and the component parts of the others driven at lower speed resting in contact rc lation and in readiness for active engagement, and common means for successively disengaging the ('oacting parts of said clutches.

is. A power transmitter comprising a driving and a driven member. a plurality of connections between. the same constructed and arranged to communicate independ- 1 entlv from one to the other of saidniembers different relative speeds, and at least one of said connections comprising a clutch of engagement when the connection or connection's having higher speed are not in driving relation, automatically acting means for controlling the effective operation of said connections, and a driving connection between said means and said driven member of the transmitter.

19. In a power transmitterfthe combination,with a driving and a driven member, of a plurality of connections between the same constructed and adapted to communicate independently from the one to'the other of said members different relative speeds in the same direction and to maintain a continuous driving relation between said members through all changes of speed in the same direction, an additional connection between said driving and driven members constructed and adapted to transmit motion between said members in the opposite direction, and common means for controlling said connections for effecting changes of speed and direction of movement of the driven member, and for constructed and arranged to communicate from one to the other of said members di-v verse Imovements, one of said connections being arranged to transmit motion .to the driven member in one direction and another of said connections to transmit motion to the driven member in the opposite direction,

and each of said connections comprising a a lyclutch wheel and self acting friction tion with a driving and a driven member, of

a plurality of connections between the same constructed and arranged to communicate "independently from one to the other of said members different relative speeds, at least one of said connections comprising a clutch having self-cramping parts operative in one direction only, and means for disengaging the self-cramping clutch-parts to render them inoperative in both directions of relative movement of said members.

tion with a driving and'a driven member, of a plurality of connections between the same constructed and arran ed to communicate from one tothe other of said members different relative speeds, at least one of said connections comprising a transmitting drum ositively connected with one of said memers, a transmitting part positively. connected with the other of said members, a frictionally engaging part normally in contact relation with said drum, a rocker carried by said transmitting part and havin a connection with said engaging part w ereby the latter may be forced into operative engagement with said drum when actuated in one direction only, and means for forcibly moving said rocker'in the opposite direction for preventing the operative action of said engaging part with said drum in either direction of relative movement of said driving and driven members.

23. In combination, a driving and a driven member, a series of connections for communicatin from one to the other of said mem bers d: erent relative speeds, each of said connections comprising a drum, a frictionally engaging part normal y in contact relation with said drum and an operating lever or, rocker pivot ally connected with said enga ing part at different distances from the axis 0 rotation of said drum, and means for shifting said lever or rocker to withdraw said engaging part from operative relation with said drum and thereby permit the'relative movement of said driving and driven members in either direction. 24. In a power transmitter, the combination with two shafts, and a stepped series of gears havingpositive connections withnne of said shafts, of a second stepped series of gears mounted loosely upon the other of said shafts and meshing with those of the first series, connections involving a one-Way acting clutch intermediate each gear or the second series with its shaft, and means including an independently operated device for controlling the relation of the com onent members of two adjacent clutches w ereby:

the control of the one by means of said device causes the simultaneous automatic actuation of the other.

25. In a power transmitter, the combina tion with a driven shaft, 2. series .of driving members loosely mounted thereon and means for rotatin the same at different speeds,- of a series of riven members fixed upon said driven shaft, automatically acting clutch parts intermediate each driving member and its respective driven member and operative in one direction only, and independently controlled means for forcibly interrupting the operative relation of the clutch parts of the lower speed member or membe'rs where- 22. In a power transmitter, the comb1na-' and a driven shaft, of a plurality of trains of gearing of different speeds ach having a member mounted on and 'poshively connect .ed with said drivin shaft and an interen a A a p b 4 ing member loosely mounted upon said driven shaft, means whereby each tram of gearin is ada ted to be automaticall connected o P y to the driven shaft, but only one at a time in V 856,283

may remain in actual driving relation there- In testimony whereof, I have signed my witlnend means for forcibly controlling the name to this specification, in the presence of connecting means of lower Speeder speeds two subscribing witnesses.

whereb those Ofthe next higher speed are i FRIEDERICH MULLER. caused to automatically establish driving W'itnesses:

relation between the driving and driven H. J. MILLER,

shafts. 1 W. A. KORNEMANN. 

